Thank you to Professor Marc Bekoff for revealing the true plight of Billy, the new “pachyderm heartthrob” acquired by the Denver Zoo. As this majestic animal’s sole purposes are to donate “brand-new genetic material” and be a spectacle for the zoo’s guests, his story is nothing short of heartbreaking.

If zoos truly exist to promote education and conservation, why don’t they do more to educate the public about how animals naturally behave in the wild? By not having their social, emotional and physical needs met in captivity, they exhibit signs of stress behaviors for conditions like depression, boredom and psychosis, which zoo guests accept as “normal” behavior. Additionally, why do zoos spend millions of dollars on breeding programs in the name of conservation when they can be spending that money to actually protect the animals in their natural habitats?

I will continue to boycott zoos and advocate, instead, for sanctuaries for those animals already imprisoned.

My heart goes out to every captive animal, especially Billy.

Heidi Cies, Denver

This letter was published in the June 23 edition.

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In today’s world where even the “wilderness” of Africa and the Amazon is partitioned out, sub-divided, and illegally encroached upon in the name of ivory or logging or mining……one has to wonder if “natural sanctuaries” really exist……or whether or not we are simply talking about one “enclosure” being “larger” – “much, much larger” – than another…….but where an “enclosure” is still an “enclosure” that exists to confine or restrict the movement of animals to a certain and specific confined area.

No one really questions the idea that “caging” animals in small cages for the viewing pleasure of adults and kids to see lions and tigers and bears up close is……no longer desirable.

But any suggestion that the “wilds” of Africa or the Amazon is the only place for animals of those locations can be allowed to live…….does a disservice to those who can’t spend the $50,000 it might take to take a family of 4 – 6 to see deer and elephants and hippos in Africa…….when a more “modern” zoo not only allows those animals enough roaming space to roam……but allows them to roam and live without concern for any other animals who may desire to hunt them down, kill them, and eat them.

In fact, many people suggest that it is the local zoos that actually bring to light the plight and the problems native animals have in their native countries with poaching, logging, and mining to the masses in cities like Denver…….plights and problems that would be far more ignored if NOT for the zoos who educate us about the problems the animals WE SEE have in their “natural habitat” that mankind is encroaching on more and more year by year.

Thus, zoos do serve a vital educational purpose……..and “modern” zoos that provide larger “natural” settings that allow the animals to roam about in relative comfort……with their food, water, and health care needs provided…..is hardly akin to the zoos and circuses of 100 years ago.

Beechez

You gotta be kidding me, Robtf777. “Enough roaming space to roam?” The home range of an Asian elephant can be anywhere from 10 square miles to much much more. And some Asian elephants migrate 500km during a year. Hmmm, the Denver Zoo’s “Toyota Elephant Passage” is a whopping 10 acres…

While seeing these majestic animals live and in-person can be inspiring, my hope is it’ll inspire some young kid to grow up and push to outlaw zoos altogether in the future.

So I heartily agree with Ms. Cies. It is heartbreaking to see such majestic animals “caged”, even if their cages are 10 ten acres. Guess you think Sea World is cool too.

Your thinking that these modern zoos are better than in the past is simply a rationalization to make you feel better. The animals may be fed and cared for, but they are prisoners.

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